Sprinkler-head for automatic fire-extinguishers



(No Model.)

V. LAPHAM. SPRINKLER HEAD FOR AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.

No. 513,582. Patented Jan. 30, 1894.

.237 VGHHN":

Wu? essezs NITE STATES VALENTINE LAPHAM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPRINKLER-HEAD FOR AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,582, dated January 30, 1894.

Application filed October 4, 1893.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VALENTINE LAPHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, 1n the county of Cook and State of Illinols, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sprinkler-Heads for Automatic Fire-Extinguishers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates generally to sprinkler heads for automatic fire extinguishers, and particularly to that element of the sprinkler head whose component parts are held together by a fusible substance, and whose office (so long as it remains intact) is to hold the cap upon the discharge nozzle of the distributing pipe, which office it performs sometimes by a direct engagement with the top of the cap and sometimes through intermediatemechanism. This element sometimes takes the form of a strut, in which case itdepends upon its resistence to compression for its efieotiveness in the performance of its function.

The object of the present invention is to so improve the construction of this element as to insure the separation of its component parts when subjected to a predetermined temperature.

The invention consists in certain features of novelty that are pointed out in the claims, and in order that it may be fully understood I will describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sprinkler head, in which the cap is held in place upon the discharge nozzle by means of astrut, embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of said strut on line 22. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the component parts of said strut, separated.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 A represents the discharge nozzle of the system, B the yoke extending beyond its extremity, and G the deflector supported by the yoke opposite the nozzle, all of which may be of customary or any desired construction. Through the outer portion of the yoke is tapped a screw D, and between this screw and the cap E is interposed a strut, which, as shown, is made up of two similar parts F, a part G, and two small rollers H. The inner sides of the parts F are Serial No. 487,166. (No model.)

offset so as to form on each two surfaces fand f, united by a shoulder f Preferably, the surfaces f and f lie in parallel planes, so that when the two parts F are placed together the surfaces f will bear flat against each other, while the surfaces f will be parallel with each other, but a sufficient distance apart to admit betweenthem the part- G. The lower extremity g of the part G and the shoulders f constitute opposing bearing surfaces which extend laterally with relation to the several parts, and between them the rollers H are interposed so that the bearing surface g bears upon both of said rollers and each of said rollers bears upon one of the bearing surfaces f The meeting surfaces of the several parts F, G, and H are all secured together by solder, so that the several parts form a single compression member or strut, through the medium of which the screw D may be caused to force the cap E upon its seat with sufficient pressure to prevent the escape of fluid from the nozzle. As shown in the drawings, the part G is provided in its upper end with a conical depression 9 for receiving the conical point of the screw D, whereby the upper end of the strut is centered, and the screw and strut are held in engagement with each other. The lower end of the strut is reduced to a wedge shape and fits in a groove or depres sion formed in the top side of a lug c that rises from the cap. The object of this latter construction is to provide for the free circulation of air around the lower end of the strut.

It will be seen that so long as the strut remains intact the line of force is directly through its center, but that as soon as the parts are freed from each other by fusion of the solder the line of force is divided by the rollers and is transmitted through them to the shoulders f passing through the lower portion of the parts F in two lines upon opposite sides of the central bearing point. The effect of this is to force the parts F in opposite directions, away from each other, and insure a complete separation of the component parts of the strut when the head is fired. The

fact that each of the parts F moves away from the part G (instead of toward it) is due to the fact that the part F is located upon one side of the part G, and the points of contact between the roller and laterally extending.

parts F is provided with a laterally eXtend--- ing plate or lip f which lies against the face of the part G and overlaps the other part F, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2;

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'- 1. In a sprinkler head, the combination with a suitable frame and a cap, of a strut having a bearing point at each end, said strut having also a part F provided with a laterally extending bearing surface, a part G provided with a laterally extending bearing surface opposed to the bearing surface of the part F, aroller'interposed between said bearing surfaces, an"d fusible means for holding the several parts in'place, a portion of the part F being located upon one side of the part G, and the points of contact between the roller and" laterally extending bearing surfaces be- In' order to ing located upon the corresponding side of a plane v passing through: the; be'aring 'p oints of the strut, substantially asset forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a strut consisting of the two parts F,F, having their innerfaces ofiset to form shoulders f the part .other and a part G interposed between the parts F and overlapped by saidlips, the meeting surfaces of the several parts being soldered together, substantially as set forth.-

VALENTINE LA-PHAM;

Witnesses:

N; O. GRIDLEY, L. M. HOPKINS. 

